Manchester, N.H. (December 16, 2024) – Paul Beaudin’s educational journey began as a kindergartener in Manchester the day his mother took him by the hand and walked him to the Straw School at 608 Chestnut Street. Over the years, his journey as a student, professor, and administrator brought him to various regions of New York and, eventually, back to New England. The Board of Trustees of the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) on December 12 unanimously confirmed Dr. Beaudin as the next President of Manchester Community College (MCC), bringing his life in education full circle and back to his Manchester roots.
“We are delighted to appoint Dr. Beaudin as President of Manchester Community College,” said Katharine Shields, chair of the CCSNH Board of Trustees. “His commitment to educational excellence, removing barriers, and creating a sense of belonging to support student success came through in all phases of the search process. We were especially impressed by the scope of his professional experience, from teaching in the South Bronx, to leadership in a variety of community colleges and graduate level institutions, making him an exciting leader for the college and a valuable addition to the education community here in the Granite State.”
Beaudin’s professional experience in higher education includes, most recently, serving as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Northern Essex Community College, across the border in Haverhill and Lawrence, Massachusetts, where he engaged with many of the same demographic and institutional challenges facing New Hampshire and gained key perspectives on strategies and regional needs. He coupled executive leadership with a granular focus on the processes and environments that shape the student experience, promoted greater access for student enrollment by both time and modality, supported the launch of several new certificate and degree programs, and – working with the faculty governance body – helped modify policies to support student success and retention.
Beaudin also served within the State University of New York (SUNY) system from 2015-2021 as Vice President for Academic Affairs, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs, and Dean of Instruction at SUNY Suffolk on Long Island, a tri-campus community college of over 20,000 students. From 2008-2015, he worked at Iona College in New Rochelle, NY, a private, graduate-level institution where he served as Associate Dean, directed advisement for graduate education students, and was an Associate Professor of Education. He has additional graduate teaching experience at Manhattan College (Bronx, NY), Fordham University (Bronx, NY), and Seton Hall University (South Orange, NJ). Outside of higher education, Beaudin served as district superintendent for the Bronx Catholic Schools, with responsibility for 62 elementary schools enrolling 25,000 students.
“When we began this search, we knew it would be important to find a leader who could step into a dynamic environment in stride, to ensure that Manchester Community College continues to serve its students and the community well, and that MCC is contributing to the renaissance in Manchester,” said Dr. Mark Rubinstein, CCSNH Chancellor. “Dr. Beaudin has demonstrated that ability throughout his career, and in asking him to accept this role with MCC in his hometown, I am confident that he will provide that leadership to enable his talented faculty and staff to ensure that Manchester’s students thrive.”
“It is a privilege to be invited to leadership at MCC, situated in the same city where I live and where my grandmother and her siblings made shoes in the mills along the river,” Dr. Beaudin said. “I was drawn to this position because of the caring reputation that MCC faculty and staff enjoy within the community and the college’s commitment to workforce development and the economic growth of our area. I intend to start by spending time listening to those administrators, faculty, and staff who have dedicated so much of their lives to this college and its students. I want to hear from students about how the college is helping to support their dreams and how our community partnerships can best provide living-wage jobs for our graduates and their families.”
“Paul’s dedication to the students and the school community is evident in both his actions and his words,” said CCSNH Trustee Donnalee Lozeau, who co-chaired the search committee. “His approach to service will be a great addition to MCC, as that kind of dedication to mission is a hallmark of the college.”
Dr. Beaudin holds a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy Education from Fordham University, a Professional Diploma in School Administration and Supervision, also from Fordham, and a Master of Science in Education from Iona College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude from Iona College.
Manchester Community College was founded in 1945 and is a fully accredited public non-profit community college with more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs, including advanced manufacturing, business, education, healthcare, art and design, computer science, automotive technology, construction technologies, liberal arts and more. MCC works closely with area employers and with high schools in its region and houses the Spark Academy charter school on its campus. MCC enrolls approximately 3,000 students annually plus more than 2,000 high school students who enroll through CCSNH’s Early College program. Interim President Charles Lloyd had led the college since August and in January will resume his role as Vice Chancellor of the Community College System of NH.
Beaudin will start at MCC on January 13, 2025.
